Barista Magazine

APR-MAY 2018

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Page 29 of 135

P U L L : E V E N T S
SIGEP
RIMINI, ITALY
JANUARY 20–24, 2018
PHOTOS BY KENNETH R. OLSON
Every year, the mammoth international trade show Sigep
continues to grow in both a endees and exhibitors. More
than 209,000 visitors from 180 countries passed through
the massive convention center located just outside the
seaside resort city of Rimini, Italy, for the 2018 event in
January to sample the latest and greatest in confections,
baked goods, chocolate, gelato, and, of course, coff ee.
Sigep's coff ee sector mirrors the overall growth of the
event, as its space on the show fl oor has nearly quintupled
over the past fi ve years.
Photos clockwise from top le : The all-volunteer judging
team takes a group selfi e before the last day of the Italian
Coff ee Championships. Sigep hosts not only the national
coff ee competitions but also global championships for
gelato, pastry, and myriad dessert categories.
The 2018 Italian La e Art Champion, Mauela Fensore,
poses a er her win at Sigep with 2016 World La e Art
Champion, Umpaul from South Korea.
Italian specialty-coff ee icon Francesco Sanapo gives
an interview on the Sigep show fl oor. Besides being the
owner of lauded Florence, Italy-based Di a Artigianale,
Francesco is also a cofounder of the competition Barista
& Farmer which holds its annual press conference at
Sigep. In May, Barista & Farmer will be held in Colombia
and follow international baristas as they live and work on
coff ee farms.
The global competitions at Sigep bring out some tough
competitors and fervent fans. Supporters of the French
gelato team cheer for their country's 10-person squad as it
works against the clock on its next dessert course.
The runner-up in the 2017 Italian Barista Championship,
Davide Cavaglieri, collapses in joyful exuberance as he
hears his name announced as the winner for 2018.
Just a couple of miles from the ultra-modern
convention center, the ancient Bridge of Tiberius leads
into the heart of old Rimini. Construction on the bridge
was completed in 20 A.D., and pedestrians and vehicles
still use it to this day.
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